Android 4.1 'Jelly Bean' coming to HTC One XL and S - date TBD

It's official folks, HTC is the first third-party manufacturer with what one might call a 'bleeding edge' smartphone on the market, to confirm that it will indeed be delivering Google's Android 4.1 'Jelly Bean' OS to some of its line-up, more specifically, the HTC One XL and One S.

We say official, however this news comes from Australian network, Telstra, who, along with HTC, does have a bit of a reputation for leading users on. Currently the firm is claiming that "HTC is preparing an update but is yet to confirm the date it will be submitted for Telstra testing."

For owners of the Tegra 3-based One X (that includes the UK), there's no need to jump the flame gun, as the device's absence from the list is simply due to the fact that Telstra doesn't offer this variant and, it's more than likely that HTC is working on a Jelly Bean update for the One X as well.

This announcement was perhaps made possible by the recent finalisation of the Android 4.1 SDK, which, whilst being available to developers since the Google I/O press conference, had yet to be finalised and made suitable for release.

There's still no word yet from Samsung, who stated that it would be "reviewing the possibility of implementation", though there are some rumours suggesting a fourth quarter release, we can imagine Samsung having a tough time meshing some of its GALAXY-specific features with some of Android 4.1's latest offerings, a union which is vital for the overall image of the S3, which claims a seamless meshing of software and hardware.

EDIT: HTC has now officially confirmed the matter, including for the One X.

There's still no word yet from Samsung, who stated that it would be “reviewing the possibility of implementation”, though there are some rumours suggesting a fourth quarter release, we can imagine Samsung having a tough time meshing some of its GALAXY-specific features with some of Android 4.1's latest offerings

I just can't see Samsung not doing JB (and Butter) on the S3 - since they'd get slaughtered in the market - especially if HTC are going to do it on the HTC One X, (not to say anything of the elephant in the room - namely the iPhone5). Plus since the S3 shipped with ICS, surely it's not too much to expect to see JB on it - especially as Google's been claiming that ICS->JB is merely a “speed bump” rather than a major revision.

So given it's a reasonably safe (?!) assumption that it will happen (JB on the S3), the question is when. Q4/Christmas this year is fine with me - like most I'd far prefer to wait a few extra weeks and get a rock solid ROM in return.

chatesDefinately looking forward to it hitting the S2, hopefully might see a little speed up as ICS does seem to have slowed my device a little, its just not running as smoothly as 2.3 was :(

Same here with my daughters Arc S - it was okay on G'bread, but she's going to have to overclock to get back the same level of performance on ICS (using the official Sony ROM). I've heard quite a few people complain that their G'bread running phone is now slower because they've ICS'd it.

Its been the pattern before that high end Android handsets get one major OS update in their lifetimes. Google aren't classing this as a major OS update

In the past Android has had major bumps in point increases, like the jump from 2.0 to 2.2 which was significant. Google have said in the past that major version changes will not get a full number bump, going by this I would like to hope that the One X and the S3 would get a Android 5.0 update in due course.

If this trend is not continued, I think a Nexus device might be on the cards in the future.

Not sure I believe HTC anymore - They were saying the desire HD would be getting the ICS update soon, but leaks online state that in some areas HTC won't be rolling out the update due to performance issues. Although UK HTC confirmed it plans to still roll it out.